RESIDENTS of Rawcliffe, York, face a miserable and lonely Christmas with abandoned houses and drying machines the legacy of last month's floods.

Many properties in the Rawcliffe area, which was one of the worst hit by the terrible flooding, have been abandoned and residents have been forced to spend the festive period in rented accommodation or with friends and family elsewhere in the city.

Instead of Christmas lights and tinsel the houses in Rawcliffe Croft are adorned with ripped wallpaper and bare plaster.

Derek Rowe, 74, of Rawcliffe Court, is one of the few lucky enough to escape the worst of the waters, and will be at home unaffected this Christmas.

Derek, who described the floods as the most traumatic thing he has experienced since being blown up at a bus stop in London in 1944, said: "It is very strange. None of my neighbours are here any more. All we see is white vans coming to take away furniture and workmen doing repairs.

"We were the lucky ones. Although the water seeped through our walls, the floorboards were unaffected and we have only suffered £1,500 worth of damage".

He added that other properties in the area would need more than £30,000 worth of repairs.

Another reason Derek can describe himself as lucky was his insurance, due for renewal today, which he paid a couple of weeks ago, with only a £6 rise in his premium.

"I know that a lot of people will struggle to get insurance now after these terrible floods."

Meanwhile, Anne McIntosh, Tory MP for the Vale of York, has secured an adjournment debate at the House of Commons in the New Year to discuss the effects of building a park-and-ride scheme near flood plains.

She said: "My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the people of Rawcliffe who have suffered in recent times and who will not be able to spend Christmas in the comfort of their own homes."

She added that a number of residents of the area were very upset that they were still being asked to pay council tax, despite having had to abandon their properties.

reporters@ycp.co.uk